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Horse Behavior and Training

bunny hops

By:

pilgrim111

Date:

2010-Jul-07 at 06:28PM

my boy is fine at walk and trot under the saddle, the minute he goes into canter he doesn't do a proper buck more like bunny hops with his hind legs. He doesn't do it with the saddle and long lines. I will admit I don't know how long it is since he cantered with a rider as I have been working from scratch with him. He came from a rescue and had some issues I needed to iron out. We have been very sucessful so far but this bunny hopping is disconcerting and I don't want it to escalate. Anyone any ideas? Please

vicci - UK (North Wales) 2010-Jul-12 at 05:28PM

If he definately does not do it in longlines under saddle (I presume you canter in the longlines) it may be that he is experinencing some pain when a rider is on the saddle; if this is the case it may be time to get a vet and/or physio in to have a look at his back and/or have a good look at the saddle see if anything is digging in. If there is no physical issue and the saddle is fine then you may want to consider some professional help to deal with this behaviour - I can understand you feeling disconcerted by it and wouldn't want it to escalate. (To clarify: I don't work with Monty, I had my picture taken with him at Flag is Up)

vicci - UK (North Wales) 2010-Jul-12 at 05:47PM

I change the picture Pilgrim so ignore my last comment!

pilgrim111 2010-Jul-14 at 09:38AM

Thank you, my other aspect is this, he has a treeless saddle as well and this fits him, it has a good numnah underneath and he still does it. I have a western saddle and am hoping to train him in this. Someone mentioned he may get a little excited about getting faster (boy is he fast) and being 50% arab is he a little hot headed? I will take your advice,I really apreciate it.

Maya Horsey ~ Certified Instructor USA 2010-Jul-14 at 04:20PM

This could be the first time he has been asked to canter with a riders weight on his back so it feels different to him and he is reacting in a way of trying to shift the weight. If all pain has been eliminated and your horse is physically strong enough to carry a rider i would try to ride through the bunny hops - -they are very different to bucking, often when horses start to bunny hop the rider will stop the horse and that then gives him a reward for doing it - rest/release of pressure.

If you have an experienced rider and can stay on him through the initial bunny hops you will see him start to find his balance and understand where his legs go in canter with extra weight on top. a way of keeping him going in the canter with a rider on is to have a ground person in the round pen to help keep forward movement - like you would for the Join up and the long lining process.

Please do not take any risks - eliminate all pain and discomfort and make sure your rider is experienced with getting on young/unstarted/unknown history horses!
Hope all goes well

Maya Horsey is a Certified Instructor
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christinehardaker 2010-Nov-03 at 01:58PM

Have a look at this web site http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DSLD-equine/
One of the indications of this is doing a bunny hop in canter,
hope not though...